Crystal Palace have suffered a massive setback with the news that Mamadou Sakho is set for a spell on the sidelines.

The Frenchman hobbled off with a calf injury during the first half of the game with Bournemouth on Saturday, with manager Roy Hodgson fearing it could be "weeks rather than days" out.

And his worst fears have been confirmed, with the former Liverpool man set for a lengthy spell out of the side at a crucial time.

Hodgson said: "He'll be out a long time, how long a time, I don't know, they won't put a time on it, but it's a serious muscle tear in his calf so I don't know, but it's weeks not days, I couldn't say if it was months.

"We'll miss him, in this period he's played a decisive role, been captain, shown his qualities and when you lose a player like that you can't be anything other than disappointed and sad."

There was better news on Yohan Cabaye though, who was replaced in the second half of the game against the Cherries after taking a hefty kick to his leg.

Hodgson added: "He took a knock didn't he? He was doing well, as he always does and he took a nasty kick, was limping a little bit, plus we had worked hard, it was getting late in the game, so we thought it was a good moment to give Yohan a breather and get fresh legs onto the field.